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(No Model.)

J. H. GOODFELLOW. BUTTON FASTENING STAPLE; No. 273,724.- Patented Mar. 13, 1883..

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JOHN H. GOODFELLOlV, OF TROY, NElV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOOD- FELLO W MANUFAGT URING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BUTTON-=FASTENING STAPLE.

Application filed December 4, 1882.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN H. GOODFELLOW, of the city of Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Button-Fastening Staples, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the form of the staples that are used to attach buttons to shoes and other articles, and more particularly to that class of them that are constructed with a bend in the staple-top to receive the eye of the button, and the prongs of which, after being passed through the leather or material, are turned up into the latter to clinch without the use of a clinching-plate.

The object of my improvement is to widen the clinching-grasp of the staple in the leather or material between where the prongs enter it, so as to distribute the tension strain upon it over as large an area as possible, and thus to lessen the chances of its pulling out. Another object is to dispense with the cost of a clinching-plate by constructing one of the stapleprongs to turn up into the material outside of the end of the other prong and at right angles to its clinch-line, so as to cover its point.

My invention consist-s, as will hereinafter be more fully described, in constructing a staple with two prongs, one of which is longer than the other, and which longer prong is adapted by construction to turn up to clinch on a line parallel to the sides of the staple-top, directly beneath the latter, and the shorter prong constructed to turn up to clinch at right angles to the staple sides and top and the clinch-line of the longer prong, and so as to turn up into the leather or material outside of and over the end of the longer prong.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, there are siX figures illustrating my invention, and in all of which the same designation of parts by letter reference is used.

Figure 1 illustrates in a perspective the blank form cut from which to bend the staple. Fig. 2showsin aperspective the completed staple, one of the prongs being longer than the other and bent at right angles to the end of the staple-top and from the end, and the shorter prong bent at right angles to the top from the side of the staple-top at the opposite end.

Patent No. 273,724, dated March 13, 1883,

(No model.)

Fig. 3 illustrates in perspective the staple as inverted, with the button-eye inserted in its top recessed bend. Fig. 4 shows in perspective the position of the button, staple, and the leather or material in an inverted position, with the longer prong shown as having been passed through the leather and turned down on the under side of the material or leather, on a clinch-line parallel to the sides of the stapletop, and beneath the latter, with the short prong passed through the leather or material, but not turned down. Fig. 5 illustrates in a perspective view the connected parts as shown in Fig. 4, with the exception that the short prong of the staple has been turned down and up into the material or leather to clinch on a line at right angles to the clinch-line of the longer staple-prong and overits point, so as to cover and secure it. Fig. 6 shows in perspective the attached button and staple, with the bend side of the short prong turned toward the sight.

The parts of the staple are designated by letter reference, and their function as constructed is described as follows:

The letter B indicates the blank form which is cut from the metal to produce the staple; T T, the staple-top, and B the recessed bend produced in the top to receive the button-eye E. The letter P indicatesthe short prong of the staple; P its long prong. R designates the button,and M the leather or material.

The staple is produced from the L-shaped blank B by forming in the long arm of the latter the recess-bend B for the button-eye. The long prong is then made by bending down flatwise and at right angles a portion of the long arm of the blank, the remainder of the latter forming the staple-top, and the short prong is produced by bending downwardly and flatwise at right angles with the top of the staple the short arm of the blank, the long prong being bent from the end of the long arm of the blank and the short prong from the side of the latter at its end. As thus made and shaped the long prong P is adapted to turn up beneath the leather or material, so as to be vertically parallel to the staple-top, and the short prong is adapted to enter the material or leather on a line vertically parallel with the side of the staple-top, and in a position as constructed to be turned to bend over the point of the long prong when turned up, and to enter the material to clinch at the side of the latter, the bend-line of the short prong being at right angles to that of the other. When my improved staple is thus applied to attach a button, the prongs grasp intermediately suflicient area of material to obtain a strong grasp on the latter, with the points so secured that they will not loosen by useto irritate the feet and catch into the stockings, and the use of a clinching-plate is avoided.

Where staples are used for attaching but- 7 tons in which the prong-points turn up into theleather between the staple-sides, four punctures are made in the material in close proximity, which have the eife'ot to cut and weaken the material at that point and to greatly increase the chances of its pulling out under the tension made on it when buttoning the shoe or article to which the attachment is made.

Having to make but three punctures to apply a button by means of my improved staple and at separated points, I am enabled to avoid the weakening of the material and to obtain between the broad clinch of the long prong and the staple-top a strong attachment.

Having thus described my invention, what I 7 JOHN H. GOODFELLOW.

Witnesses STANLEY M. HOLDEN, CHARLES S. BRINTNALL. 

